Granular product and method of producing same



R. E. WILEY ET An.

GRANULAR PRODUCT AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME Filed July 9, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 5 R. E. WILEY ET AL GRANULAR PRODUCT AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME Filed July 9. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS K BY k r ,JW n

ATTQ \NEY 4 penditure of time and labor and BOY E. WILEY, 0F PLAINJEIELD,

arm CARL E. runnsrne, or sonnavrrrin, NEW

eraser.

GRANULAR PRODUCT AND METHOD OI PRODUCING SAME. I

Application filed July 9,

This invention relates to granular product and method of producing the same, and has particular application to a caustic alkali material treated by the method hereinafter 63 described in detail to produce the same in substantially granular form, as contradistinguished from the fused, powdered or flaked condition, and which caustic alka-lies,

such as caustic soda (sodium hydroxide),

110 lye (potassium hydroxide) and the like,

have been marketed in the trade.

In the present instance, for the sake of illustration, we have describedfour invention as relating to. a granular causticsod'a prod- W not and the method of obtaining the same, although we wish it to be'understood that the invention isnot' limited tocthis particular material, but is also applicable tovother caustic alkalies, such as potassium hydrox-' W ide and other substances possessing similar properties, and which itis desired to reduce to granular form.

Heretofore caustic soda has been produced: and marketed in fused, powdered M and flaked form and is well known in the trade. There are, however, certain well rec'- ognized disadvantages incident to the material in the aforementioned conditions. Gaustic soda, of course, absorbs moisture with great rapidity when'exposed to the atmosphere so that great care is required in storing and handling the same in either fused or ground or flaked condition. Further more, if such material, when in ground orflaked condition, is allowed to absorb sulficient moisture and then dried it assumes the form of a caked, lumpy, homogeneous mass, and mustbe reprocessed to restore it to its 'original condition, withithe consequent exthe resultant increase in cost.

For many purposes or uses, it is, of course, desirable to keep the caustic soda ina'loose sub-divided condition, so that it is composed 4 of fine particles, and may therefore be poured, sifted or. handled andjused to advantage. v 2 a c This we accomplish with the present in vention, for we produce the material in the .form of small granules or globular particleswhich may be of any size, and which, ow ing to the minute points or areas vof contact between the granular particles forming the mass, will not, when exposed to'/; moisture,

iaaa. Serial No. 42,345.

dry, stick, cake or compact tothe degreeas Ml when in the flaked or powdered condition. On the cdntrary, should our material in its granular form" absorb moisture sufficient to cause the particles to adhere, the application of very slight pressure, as by crushing, rubt bing orthe like, is suflicient to cause the detachment of the particles and the consequent crumbling or reduction or" the mass to its original granular form. This is impossible with the tisual flaked or, powdered material, because of the large areas of surfaoe'contact between the particles thereof. Such a mass instead of crumblingvunder the application of force will break with'a' crystalline fracture, merely resulting in the production or to hard, lump-like portions, and the only remedy is to reprocess the cake-like mass, as heretofore stated. p

Another object of our invention is to les- 7.

sen the moisture absorbin qualities of the loose mass of caustic/ soda y mixing therewith an inert inorganicsubstance, such as talc or the like, in the form of a fine pow-- der. This is particularly advantageous and adaptable to the caustic soda in its granu- E hi or globular form, as the granules, becoming completely coated with the fine inert material will be thus protected to some extent from the action bf; moisture, and consequently the tendency of the mass to absorb moisture is retarded and decreased. There fore, in the present instance it is our purpose to produce caustic soda or materials possessing similar moisture absorbing qualities, in loose, granular, spherical or globular form, and to retard or decrease the moisture ab- .7 sorbing qualities of caustic soda material by the use and application or admixture therewith of a fine or powdered inert inorganic material. I t5 With the above recited objects and others of a similar-nature and view, our invention cionsi stsin the product and in themethod of producing the same set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

In; the drawings we have shown, and we herein describe, one form of apparatus useful in practicing; the method and producing the product, although we wish-it to be understood that we are not limited in the practice 1 of our present invention to this particular i apparatus, The latter forms the subiect matter of a separate application, that of Roy E. Wiley and Carl E.Mensing, filed July 9, 1925, Serial No: 42,344, apparatus for producing granular products.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 11s aview partly in vertical section and partly in elevation of an apparatus for carrying out m invention.

ig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken throu h the centrifugal distributor'mechanism of the apparatus.

In the practice of our invention the material .to be treated,- such as the caustic soda indicated in Fig. 1 as S,is placed in the pot 1 of a still A, here conventionally illustrated, and is reduced to a fused or fluid form. From the still the fused or fluid-like caustic soda is forced, by acentrifu'gal pump B, of any well known form, through the supply pipe 2 to the nozzle head 3 carried at the up- ,per end of the pipe 2 and dis osed within.

the confines of the centrifuga distributor bowl 4, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The uper portion of the wall of the distributor owl is outwardly flared as at 5 to the proper degree to give adquate distribution, as hereinafter described. The distributor bowl is secured to the upper end by a threaded locking ring 6 at the upper shouldered end 7 of the revolving slee ve 8, so that the bowl w1l1 turn or revolve with the sleeve when the latter is driven. The upper vertical sectlon of the supply pipe 2 extends through this sleeve 8, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. This sleeve 8 is mounted'to revolve on bearings carried by the frame F which also acts to support the drive gearing. The frame F may be of any suitable form, and in the present instance is lower mounted upon I-beams 9-9 and has a foot block 10 supporting a thimble 11 on which rests the shoulder 12 of the sleeve 8. The upper portionof the frame carries a collar 13through' which" the sleeve extends, the

ortion of the sleeve also extendln throug the bore-of the foot block 10, as W be seen by reference to Fig.2. Keyed on the shoulder portion 12 of the sleeve is a p1n1on 14 meshin with the gear 15 splined on the drive sha 16, the bearings for the drive shaft 16 being shown as carried by the frame as at 17 andv 18. This drive shaft 16 1s driven from any suitable motor, such as a small electric motor (not shown).

' F om the apparatus thu's far describe'd, it

fiil be seen that when the centrifugal pump is inoperation pumping the caustic soda S, and the centrifugal distributing bowl is revolvin through the operation of the driving mechanism thereof, the fused fluid-like caus ic soda will flow through the nozzle head 3 into the distributing bowl 4 and then the rapid revolution of the latter will be moved upward in the form of a thin film to the outer extremity of the. bowl from which it is thrown horizontally by centrifugal force into a strong blast of cold dry air issuing from the open end or mouth 19 of the air chamber 20 surrounding the distributing bowl. Thecombined action of the distribut- I ing bowl and the blast of air cause the material to be thrown u ward and outward into thelarge chamber 6 in the form of a. spray or fountain.

her C, and the top' portion of this hopper is formed by a circular airduct 22 having at suitable intervals air ports 23. The walls of the hopper converge downwardly, and the at suitable intervals, with discharge spouts 24 each controlled by a valve 25 of any suitable form.. J Y

ItQi's obvious from the construction of the and that it is also the purpose to supply additional currents of air throuigh the ports 23 to supply additional cold dry air into the chamber C in such quantities as may be necessary for carrying awa the heat given up or drivenoif by thefal ing particles of caustic soda on cooling in contactfiwith the upward moving currents of air. Of course the air blast may be supplied in any suitable manner, and in the present instance we have' lowerend of such hopper is provided, also shown an air box 26-.connected with the blower 27 which supplies air to the circular air duct 22 forming and this air'box 26 is also connected. to the plpe 22? with a second blower 29 which-su plies a1r toithe air chamber 20 through the pipe 30,. low pressure to cause mild currents of air in chamber C, and blower 29 supplies air atka much higher ressure into chamber 20 for the purpose ho making a strong blast where material leaves the bowl.- As the air passes from the circular air duct 22' through the ports 23 into the chamber 0, and also through the air chamber 20 surrounding the centrifugal distributor bowl, it strikes the the top of the hopper} e blower 27 supplies air under material coming from the distributor bowl the heat, the latter finally fa ing or drop-. ping into the hopper 21 and may be drawn off through the spouts 24 into suitable containers, such .as barrels E. Now it is important to note that as the under whirling centrifugal 'action and is subjectedto the blasts of air, the mass of material issues from the distributing bowl,

material will be separated in the form of a spray and the particles thereof will, under the combined centrifugal and air action as described, assume the-form of small granules or spherical or globular particles, examination showing that these particles are in the form of practically perfect little spheres or globules. i

The air after performing its function within the large chamber or housing C passes through air port's31 beneath the roof of the chamber G into the air tube 32 which communicates at its lower end with the cooling device F, which may be of any suitable character, in the present instance a cooling coil, and at its lower end the cooling coil leads'into the air box 26, as shown at 33.

tilt

In order to insure an adequate supply of dry air for the operation, we provide any suitable arrangement, such for example as an air drying tower T, packed with any suitable dehydrating material, such for example as calcium chloride. This tower is preferably provided with an air intake in the form of the ventilated or shuttered roof 34,

V and the air drawn into the tower passes out at the bottom of the latter through the'air duct 34: to the ai box 26, and from which it, of course, is dr wn by the blowers into the chamber C.

It will be noted that wealso provide the exhaust air flue 32 with a suitable damper 32 which,"when opened, will permit @the escape of the air drawn from the chamber C before it can pass to the cooling coil F. We provide this damper because in some instances, particularly at the beginning of the operation of treating the material, the air fed into the chamber C may carry too great a quantity of moisture and consequent ly owing to-the hygroscopicjendencies of the material being treated would-become absorbed by the latter, thereby causing the material passing into thecollecting hopper to possess more moisture than might be desirable; By providing the damper the air being exhausted from the chamber C and carrying this excess amount of moisture may be discharged into the atmosphere. In practice it is only necessary to use this damper for a short time, for example at the beginning of the operation, and it may then be closed down and the air passed direct into the cooling coils and thence on back into the system. Cold water fro any suitable source may be passed throu the valve pipe 35 and sprayed through the perforated pipe 36 on the coils of the cooling device F for.

the purpose of coolingdown the air passing through the coils. lhe cooled air passing from the coils is thus passed into the air box 26, and returned to the apparatus in cooled condition to again perform the function of treating the sprayed material in the chamber (3. J i

eoaeea During the operation of treating the fused material to reduce it to its granular capabilities of such particles as before men- I tioned, and for this purpose such inert inorganic material in powder form may be fed from a suitable source of supply (not shown) through the, pipe 37 controlled by any suitable measuring device 38, intd the air pipe 28 leading to the blower 29, and

being drawn into the blower to pass with the air through the pipe 30 into the air chamber 20 surrounding the distributor bowl and will be blownthrough the mouth 19 of. this air chamber 20 into direct contact with the caustic sodamaterial as it issues from the centrifugal distributor bowl, and will intimately mix therewith, floating or being suspended in the air in admixture with the material during the operation of cooling and drying the latter. the material settles or falls do 11 into the hopper and into the barrels or ther receptacles E the small globular particles will be coated with the talc or other inert f inorganic powder for thepur'pose before mentioned. J

While we have herein shown and de-' scribed one embodiment of our invention, we wish it to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to all the precise details herein set forth by way of illustration, as modification-and variation may be made Thus when Without departing from the spirit of the in- 2. As a new product of manufacture,-

caustic soda in the form of regularly ,formed substantially spherical or globular granular particles.

3. As a new product of manufacture, an alkali body composed of regularly formed substantially globular dry granular part1- (oiles in union with an inert inorganic power. w

4.,As a new product of manufacture, a body of caustic soda composed of regularly formed substantially globular dry granular particles coated with an inert inorganic powder. I

5. The herein described method which comprises subjecting a fused mass of alkali to centrifugal action and also to the action of an air blast to reduce the mass to a body of granular particles.

J 6. The herein described method which Mill comprises subjecting a mass of caustic alkali to centrifugal action and to the action of an air blast to cool and dry the mass and to reduce the latter to a body of granules.

7. The herein described method which comprises subjecting a mass of caustic alkali to centrifugal action and simultaneously to the action of an air blast to cool and dry the mass 'and to reduce the same to a body oflsubstantially globular orspherical partic es.

8. The herein described method which comprises reducing a mass of caustic )da to a fused condition, subjecting the same to centrifugal action, to toss the mass outward and subjecting the mass so tossed to the action of a blast of cooled air to eliminate heat from the mass and to reduce the latter to a body of substantially globular vor.

spherical particles.

9. The herein described methodwhich comprises subjecting a spray of caustic alaction and simultaneously subjecting kali to centrifugal action and to an air blast to reduce the mass to substantially globular or spherical particles and simultaneously adding thereto an inert inorganic powder to coat the particles and retard the hygroscopic action thereof.

' 10. The herein described method which comprises heating a body of caustic soda to 'reducethe same to a fused mass, conducting said mass to a centrifugal device and ejecting the same therefrom by centrifugalv the ejected mass to the action of cooled air asts striking the mass at different points to eliminate the heat therefrom and to feduce the cles. r

Signed at New 'York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 2nd mass to a body of'separate globular parti 

